WEEK 9- False Humility

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

     16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.  18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.  Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.  19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

     20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?  22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Colossians 2:13-23

What does this passage have to say about humility?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) Paul mentions “false humility” in verses 18 and 23.  What is false humility, and are you ever guilty of it?  Do you think highly of yourself because you don’t brag about your accomplishments?  Do you draw attention to others’ accomplishments in hope that you will be praised, as well?  Do you help your coaches and teammates so that your good deeds will be noticed, or so that you’ll feel good about yourself?  At what times are your motives not pure, even when you’re serving or “taking a back seat to others”?

2) Why is humility necessary in order for us to grow and mature (v. 19)?  Think of yourself as a part of a body.  If (in pursuit of your own glory and independence) you tear yourself off from the rest of the body (thus losing connection with the Head), what will happen to you?  Who is the Head who causes you to grow?  In order to grow, what must be your attitude and posture toward God?  What must you admit about yourself?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) Paul describes one kind of false humility in verses 18-19.  Why does this person “go into great detail about what he has seen”?  Why does Paul say that this person has an “unspiritual mind”?  What is the primary thought that occupies a spiritual mind?  Do you ever try to impress other people with “spiritual talk”? 

4) A second type of false humility is introduced in verses 20-23.  Why does this person follow these rules?  What is he trying to lead others to believe about himself (v. 23)?  What is the problem with this behavior (v. 22)?  Do you believe that “following the rules” and having good outward behavior makes you worthy of honor?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) What is the core problem with the “false humility” described in this passage (v. 19)?  Why are “spiritual talk” and “following the rules” worthless?  When we are more concerned with what others think of us (or how we feel about ourselves), is it possible for us to be humble?

6) As an athlete (or a sports fans), what things about sports have you accepted as “just the way things are” — even if they do not glorify God?  Be challenged by Paul’s question in verse 20:  “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?”  What is different about sports at your school, because it is a Christian school?  Does your team stand out as being “different” than other athletic teams in our culture?  Why, or why not?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of humility, and pray together.

· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about humility this week, and to repeat some of those things.  (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about humility you’ve discussed, if necessary.)

· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about humility this week...What does a humble athlete do?”  Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of a humble athlete, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.

· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “humble athlete”, and be sure the list is displayed somewhere that is constantly visible, as a reminder to the team.

· Pray together as a team.  Encourage your athletes to pray for your team’s growth in regard to the discipline of humility — especially in relation to some of the issues and challenges that you discussed together this week.  Challenge them to also ask for forgiveness, when applicable.  Give time for athletes to request prayer (regarding humility or anything else), and pray together.